Transcription of BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS PLC
1 21 February 2018 BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS PLC half year results for the six month period ended 31 December 2017 Strong first half performance m unless otherwise stated1,2 half year ended 31 December 2017 half year ended 31 December 2016 Change Total completions (plots)3 7,324 7,180 Revenue 1, 1, Profit from operations Operating margin (%) ppts Profit before tax Interim dividend per share (pence) ROCE (%) ppts Net Cash ( ) Highlights Strong operational and financial performance driven by good customer demand The UK s largest housebuilder with total completions3 for the first half at 7,324 plots Good growth in profit before tax, up to with ROCE up by ppts to Approved the purchase of (2016.)
2 Of land reflecting confidence in the market, excellent land opportunities and commitment to disciplined volume growth Continued focus on industry-leading customer satisfaction and build quality demonstrated by winning the 2017 Large Builder NHBC Supreme National Award New Cambridgeshire division to open, helping to meet high demand for new homes in the region Current trading Net private reservations up at a very strong (2017: ) per active outlet per average week Total forward sales3 up to 3, as at 18 February 2018 (19 February 2017: 3, ) Capital Return Plan Extended Capital Return Plan with ongoing commitment to ordinary dividend cover at times and intention to pay special dividends of 175m in November 2018 and 175m in November 2019 Commenting on the results David Thomas, Chief Executive of BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS PLC said: With good consumer demand, a healthy forward order book and a robust balance sheet, overall we have had a strong first half and we continue to deliver against our operational and financial objectives.
3 As the UK s largest housebuilder, we enter our 60th year increasing our housing output, creating jobs and supporting economic growth across the country. Having built more than 450,000 homes since 1958, BARRATT remains focused on quality, design and industry-leading customer service while delivering homes the country needs. Note on forward looking statements 1 Refer to Glossary for definition of key financial metrics 2 Unless otherwise stated, all numbers quoted exclude joint ventures 3 Including JV s in which the Group has an interest Certain statements in this document may be forward looking statements.
4 By their nature, forward looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements. Forward looking statements regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. Accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking statements. This announcement contains inside information. The person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS PLC is Chlo Barnes (Head of Investor Relations).
5 There will be an analyst and investor meeting at today at Deutsche Bank, 1 Great Winchester Street, London, EC2N 2DB. The presentation will be broadcast live on the BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS corporate website, , from today. A playback facility will be available shortly after the presentation has finished. A listen only function will also be available Dial in: 0800 376 7922 International dial in: +44 (0) 207 192 8000 Conference ID: 4073718 Further copies of this announcement can be downloaded from the BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS corporate website or by request from the Company Secretary's office at: BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS PLC, BARRATT House, Cartwright Way, Forest Business Park, Bardon Hill, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 1UF.
6 For further information please contact: BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS PLC Jessica White, Chief Financial Officer 01530 278 259 Analyst/investor enquiries Chlo Barnes, Head of Investor Relations 020 7299 4895 Media enquiries Tim Collins, Head of Corporate Communications 020 7299 4874 Derek Harris, Head of Public Relations 020 7299 4873 Brunswick Jonathan Glass/Wendel Verbeek 020 7404 5959 Financial reporting calendar The Group's next scheduled announcement of financial information is the trading update on 10 May 2018 .
7 Please note that, unlike in previous years, BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS does not intend to provide a trading update between the AGM trading update, scheduled for 17 October 2018 , and the announcement of Interim results on 6 February 2019. Chief Executive s Statement Record first half profit The Group has delivered a strong operational and financial performance in the first half , including an increase in completion volumes and a record first half profit before tax. There is high demand for new housing across the country, supported by attractive market fundamentals. We remain committed to growing the business whilst maintaining our industry leading standards of quality and customer service.
8 Total completions (including JV s) for the period were 7,324 plots (2016: 7,180 plots), in-line with our expectations of delivering modest growth in FY18. Our regional business continues to perform exceptionally well, delivering its highest number of completions for a decade. We remain focussed on operational improvement. Operating margin increased by ppts to in the half year benefitting from both sites purchased at improved margins and increases in our new product ranges, partly offset by continued headwinds in the high end central London market. We delivered a record first half profit before tax, increasing by to (2016: ) for the period, and increased our ROCE by ppts to (2016: ).
9 Our focus remains on delivering high quality homes alongside good operational and financial performance and attractive shareholder returns. For the 13th consecutive year , we achieved more NHBC Pride in the Job Awards for site management than any other housebuilder. Furthermore, the site manager at our Forest Chase, Leicester development won the National Supreme Award in the Large Builder category. We are the only major housebuilder to be rated five star for customer satisfaction for eight consecutive years and we continue to focus upon quality of design and placemaking across our DEVELOPMENTS through our Great Places design standard.
10 We are pleased to announce the opening of a new division in Cambridgeshire. The new division will help BARRATT to continue to grow volumes and to meet the high demand for new homes in the region. The Cambridgeshire division will be creating around 50 new jobs over the next three years, with hundreds more supported in the supply chain and through local sub-contractors. 2018 marks BARRATT s 60th anniversary and we are proud to say that since we began in 1958 we have built more than 450,000 homes across the country. Committed to building more high quality homes As the UK s largest housebuilder, we remain committed to building more homes, and to playing our part in addressing industry-wide skills challenges.
